Asian Newspapers: English-Language Editions
by Judith S. Ames (from Volume 14:1, Spring 2009)
JAPAN //The Japan Times// Online TheJapan Times claims to be the most “widely read” English language newspaper in Japan. The online version has links running along the top of the page to the sections of the paper: “News,” “Opinion,” “Life in Japan,” etc. Within each section are drop-down menus to the sub-sections. Of special interest to students of the Japanese language is the Bilingual sub-section; it is found under Education in “Life in Japan,” where articles written in English are sprinkled with Japanese translations. There is a link to daily headlines going back to 1997 under the Search tab. Facebook and Twitter pages are also available for Internet savvy readers. The Mainichi Daily News
The homepage for this newspaper is simple and easy to navigate. One of the long-standing favorites is the “Haiku in English” page, which is published each day by contributors from all over the world. There are many articles about America, including a section that highlights President Obama. Daily Yomiuri Online
Links to the entire contents of the daily edition appear on the homepage; one can also use the tabs at the top of the page to access the specific sections of the paper. The Daily Yomiuri Online has a relationship with Associated Press, which supplies additional news stories on the site. The “Language Connection” articles help learners of English and of Japanese.
INDIA The Times of India
This newspaper, founded in the nineteenth century, covers a broad spectrum of news and digital information. Its City section provides information for more than 20 Indian cities, from Mumbai to Mysore. It has a large library of video clips as well as an archive of daily news photos. Hindustan //Times//
Mahatma Gandhi launched this newspaper in 1924. Its online version today is easy to navigate and has extensive coverage of world events in addition to national news. For those who like to read blogs, there are many of them on the site. The Statesman
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers and was founded in Kolkata in 1875. In addition to covering national and world news, it pays special attention to Bengal. On the homepage are the daily headlines, grouped by subject categories; the links to each section can be seen in the left-side frame.
PAKISTAN Dawn.com
This is the largest online English language newspaper in Pakistan. The articles are arranged by category on the left side with highlights for articles in the center section. The offerings are somewhat limited, but there are sections for news of the world, of Pakistan, and of business subjects.
CHINA China //View//
There is a lot to read on this site. In addition to the large number of articles on the homepage, grouped by category, there are many special in-depth reports, videos, and a photo gallery. The site is not plastered with advertisements, thus leaving space for articles and features. China //Daily//
The China Daily has a readership of more than two million people in 150 countries. It covers a wide spectrum of news available via tabs at the top of the homepage; news of China appears in the left-side frame. Recently the US Edition was launched, and is aimed at American and Canadian readers. It can be accessed by a button on the upper right corner of the front page.
INDONESIA The Jakarta Post
This periodical is the largest English language newspaper in Indonesia. It provides a broad view of the latest news in Indonesia; it also offers many special features and multi-media resources. One can navigate the site via the tabs at the top of the pages or by browsing the listings on the homepage.
THE PHILIPPINES The Manila Times
This newspaper is over one hundred years old and is the oldest in the Philippines. The interface is somewhat jumbled with stories and ads and has fonts of varying sizes and styles. The lead articles often pertain to news of the Philippines, though there are some world news stories as well. Philippines New Agency
Although this is not a newspaper, its online presence resembles one. The main section provides the top stories' headlines with abbreviated versions of the stories and links to the full story. At the top of the page are tabs to the sub-categories of the news such as “Provincial,” “Metro,” “Opinions.” THAILAND Bangkok //Post//
The homepage of the Bangkok Post offers a great deal of information. In addition to the news of the day, grouped by categories like Business, Sports, Travel, and Technology, there are several other features. A section on Breaking News, constantly updated, the latest business information on exchange rates and stocks, links to blogs and to videos are just some of the features of the site.
VIET NAM //Viêt Nam News//
This, indeed, is Viêt Nam News, in that nowhere on the main page can one see news of the world, except in connection with Việt Nam. The coverage of Vietnamese topics is quite extensive. There are many articles about social issues, culture, the economy, and politics.
SOUTH KOREA JoongAng Daily
While the focus of this newspaper is national news, there are several features aimed at foreigners living in Korea. There are articles about activities and events for the foreign community and a special English-Korean language section that has bilingual columns, showing the articles in English and Korean side by side. The Korea Times The Korea Times covers a broad range of topics, including some for the expatriate community. Many of the articles have readers' comments appended at the end. If one registers, there are extra columns and language materials.
by Judith S. Ames (from Volume 14:1, Spring 2009)
//The Japan Times// Online
The Japan Times claims to be the most “widely read” English language newspaper in Japan. The online version has links running along the top of the page to the sections of the paper: “News,” “Opinion,” “Life in Japan,” etc. Within each section are drop-down menus to the sub-sections. Of special interest to students of the Japanese language is the Bilingual sub-section; it is found under Education in “Life in Japan,” where articles written in English are sprinkled with Japanese translations. There is a link to daily headlines going back to 1997 under the Search tab. Facebook and Twitter pages are also available for Internet savvy readers.
The Mainichi Daily News
The homepage for this newspaper is simple and easy to navigate. One of the long-standing favorites is the “Haiku in English” page, which is published each day by contributors from all over the world. There are many articles about America, including a section that highlights President Obama.
Daily Yomiuri Online
Links to the entire contents of the daily edition appear on the homepage; one can also use the tabs at the top of the page to access the specific sections of the paper. The Daily Yomiuri Online has a relationship with Associated Press, which supplies additional news stories on the site. The “Language Connection” articles help learners of English and of Japanese.
INDIA
The Times of India
This newspaper, founded in the nineteenth century, covers a broad spectrum of news and digital information. Its City section provides information for more than 20 Indian cities, from Mumbai to Mysore. It has a large library of video clips as well as an archive of daily news photos.
Hindustan //Times//
Mahatma Gandhi launched this newspaper in 1924. Its online version today is easy to navigate and has extensive coverage of world events in addition to national news. For those who like to read blogs, there are many of them on the site.
The Statesman
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers and was founded in Kolkata in 1875. In addition to covering national and world news, it pays special attention to Bengal. On the homepage are the daily headlines, grouped by subject categories; the links to each section can be seen in the left-side frame.
PAKISTAN
Dawn.com
This is the largest online English language newspaper in Pakistan. The articles are arranged by category on the left side with highlights for articles in the center section. The offerings are somewhat limited, but there are sections for news of the world, of Pakistan, and of business subjects.
CHINA
China //View//
There is a lot to read on this site. In addition to the large number of articles on the homepage, grouped by category, there are many special in-depth reports, videos, and a photo gallery. The site is not plastered with advertisements, thus leaving space for articles and features.
China //Daily//
The China Daily has a readership of more than two million people in 150 countries. It covers a wide spectrum of news available via tabs at the top of the homepage; news of China appears in the left-side frame. Recently the US Edition was launched, and is aimed at American and Canadian readers. It can be accessed by a button on the upper right corner of the front page.
INDONESIA
The Jakarta Post
This periodical is the largest English language newspaper in Indonesia. It provides a broad view of the latest news in Indonesia; it also offers many special features and multi-media resources. One can navigate the site via the tabs at the top of the pages or by browsing the listings on the homepage.
THE PHILIPPINES
The Manila Times
This newspaper is over one hundred years old and is the oldest in the Philippines. The interface is somewhat jumbled with stories and ads and has fonts of varying sizes and styles. The lead articles often pertain to news of the Philippines, though there are some world news stories as well.
Philippines New Agency
Although this is not a newspaper, its online presence resembles one. The main section provides the top stories' headlines with abbreviated versions of the stories and links to the full story. At the top of the page are tabs to the sub-categories of the news such as “Provincial,” “Metro,” “Opinions.”
THAILAND
Bangkok //Post//
The homepage of the Bangkok Post offers a great deal of information. In addition to the news of the day, grouped by categories like Business, Sports, Travel, and Technology, there are several other features. A section on Breaking News, constantly updated, the latest business information on exchange rates and stocks, links to blogs and to videos are just some of the features of the site.
VIET NAM
//Viêt Nam News//
This, indeed, is Viêt Nam News, in that nowhere on the main page can one see news of the world, except in connection with Việt Nam. The coverage of Vietnamese topics is quite extensive. There are many articles about social issues, culture, the economy, and politics.
SOUTH KOREA
JoongAng Daily
While the focus of this newspaper is national news, there are several features aimed at foreigners living in Korea. There are articles about activities and events for the foreign community and a special English-Korean language section that has bilingual columns, showing the articles in English and Korean side by side.
The Korea Times
The Korea Times covers a broad range of topics, including some for the expatriate community. Many of the articles have readers' comments appended at the end. If one registers, there are extra columns and language materials.
©Association for Asian Studies, Inc.